Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Thursday; Holness debates; Consumer prices; Fuel; Clovis Toon; Breaking News and more

Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Thursday, March 16, 2023 Holness makes contribution to Budget Debate Prime Minister Andrew Holness will make his contribution to the [2023/24 Budget Debate]( on Thursday at Gordon House. Among other things, Holness is expected to speak to the worrying crime problem, the state and pace of infrastructure development, the state of the economy and questions of corruption that continue to bedevil his administration. These were among the issues [raised on Tuesday by Opposition Leader Mark Golding]( during his contribution to the Budget Debate. Golding accused the government of falling short in these areas and Holness is expected to respond. Bartlett speaks at TEF’s Speed Networking event Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett will deliver the keynote address at the [Tourism Enhancement Fund’s (TEF) Speed Networking Event]( today at 9:00 am at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Montego Bay, St James. The event offers a unique business-to-business opportunity for local manufacturers to supply the tourism industry. Its format includes pre-scheduled 15-minute meetings between managing directors, general managers, and CEOs of local supplier companies and owners/managers of properties, restaurants, attractions, and other tourism entities. Consumer Price Index for February up 0.5 per cent The All-Jamaica Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.5 per cent for the month of February. This was mainly influenced by a 2.7 per cent increase in the index for the division ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels.’ Meanwhile, the point-to-point [inflation rate]( as of February 2023 was 7.8 per cent, which was influenced mainly by the point-to-point inflation rate for the divisions: ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ (11.3 per cent), Restaurants and Accommodations Services’ (15.6 per cent) and ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ (3.7 per cent). The CPI measures changes in the general level of prices for consumer goods and services purchased by private households. Advertisement Mixed prices for gasoline, diesel Motorists will see mixed prices at the pumps for gasoline and diesel effective today. This is based on the [latest price listing from Petrojam]( the state-owned oil refinery. According to the listing, 80-octane gasoline is down by $0.25 and will be sold for $167.82 per litre while 90-octane gasoline will be sold for $172.30 per litre, up by $0.25. West Indies vs South Africa in first ODI West Indies will be looking to leave their [dismal Test form]( behind them when they take on hosts South Africa in the first of three One Day Internationals at Buffalo Park, East London today. The Windies will be pinning their hopes on new captain Shai Hope who has taken over from Nicholas Pooran. Pooran remains in the side and will look to form a key part of the middle order alongside Roston Chase and Shamarh Brook. ICYMI: WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING WATCH: PNP members, supporters laud Golding's budget debate presentation People's National Party supporters laud Opposition Leader Mark Golding after his [contribution to the 2023/24 Budget Debate](. Tenant allegedly assaults landlord during fracas over unpaid rent A St James woman [accused of assaulting her landlord when she was asked to pay her rent]( resulting in the loss of the landlord’s pregnancy, is scheduled to return to court on April 19, when a cross-case will be heard. Trelawny man charged with shooting death of 2-y-o boy Detectives assigned to the Criminal Investigation Branch in the Trelawny Police Division have [charged a man with the shooting death of two-year-old Adrian Jerome Campbell]( in his Clark’s Town community Sunday night. CLOVIS TOON TODAY IN HISTORY First black-American newspaper [On this day]( in 1827, the first US newspaper owned and operated by African Americans, Freedom's Journal, begins publishing in New York City. For more stories, visit our website at www.jamaicaobserver.com or [sign up for our e-paper](. [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Website]( Copyright © 2023 Jamaica Observer, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 40 - 42 1/2 Beechwood Avenue Kingston 5 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](.